1 J esus went away from there and came to His country and hometown, and His disciples followed Him.

Jesus went from the house of Jairus and came to His home town. His followers came after Him.

2 A nd on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were utterly astonished, saying, Where did this Man acquire all this? What is the wisdom given to Him? What mighty works and exhibitions of power are wrought by His hands!

On the Day of Rest He began to teach in the Jewish place of worship. Many people heard Him. They were surprised and wondered, saying, “Where did this Man get all this? What wisdom is this that has been given to Him? How can He do these powerful works with His hands?

3 I s not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here among us? And they took offense at Him and were hurt '> disapproved of Him, and it hindered them from acknowledging His authority] and they were caused to stumble and fall.

Is He not a Man Who makes things from wood? Is He not the Son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Do not His sisters live here with us?” The people were ashamed of Him and turned away from Him.

4 B ut Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor (deference, reverence) except in his country and among relatives and in his house.

Jesus said to them, “One who speaks for God is respected everywhere but in his own country and among his own family and in his own house.”

5 A nd He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people cured them.

So Jesus could do no powerful works there. But He did put His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

6 A nd He marveled because of their unbelief (their lack of faith in Him). And He went about among the surrounding villages and continued teaching.

He wondered because they had no faith. But He went around to the towns and taught as He went. Jesus Calls Twelve Followers and Sends Them Out

7 A nd He called to Him the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority and power over the unclean spirits.

Jesus called the twelve followers to Him and began to send them out two by two. He gave them power over demons.

8 H e charged them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no bread, no wallet for a collection bag, no money in their belts (girdles, purses)—

He told them to take nothing along with them but a walking stick. They were not to take a bag or food or money in their belts.

9 B ut to go with sandals on their feet and not to put on two tunics (undergarments).

They were to wear shoes. They were not to take two coats.

10 A nd He told them, Wherever you go into a house, stay there until you leave that place.

He said to them, “Whatever house you go into, stay there until you leave that town.

11 A nd if any community will not receive and accept and welcome you, and they refuse to listen to you, when you depart, shake off the dust that is on your feet, for a testimony against them. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the judgment day than for that town.

Whoever does not take you in or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet. By doing that, you will speak against them. For sure, I tell you, it will be easier for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day men stand before God and are judged than for that city.”

12 S o they went out and preached that men should repent '> that they should change their minds for the better and heartily amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins].

Then they left. They preached that men should be sorry for their sins and turn from them.

13 A nd they drove out many unclean spirits and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

They put out many demons. They poured oil on many people that were sick and healed them. John the Baptist Is Put in Prison

14 K ing Herod heard of it, for name had become well known. He and they said, John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why these mighty powers '> of performing miracles] are at work in Him.

King Herod heard about Jesus because everyone was talking about Him. Some people said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why he is doing such powerful works.”

15 o thers kept saying, It is Elijah! And others said, It is a prophet, like one of the prophets.

Other people said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is one who speaks for God like one of the early preachers.”

16 B ut when Herod heard, he said, '> This very] John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.

When Herod heard this, he said, “It is John the Baptist, whose head I cut off. He has been raised from the dead.”

17 F or Herod himself had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.

For Herod had sent men to take John and put him into prison. He did this because of his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of his brother Philip.

18 F or John had told Herod, It is not lawful and you have no right to have your brother’s wife.

John the Baptist had said to Herod, “It is wrong for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19 A nd Herodias was angry (enraged) with him and held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him; but she could not,

Herodias became angry with him. She wanted to have John the Baptist killed but she could not.

20 F or Herod had '> a reverential] fear of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe '> under guard]. When he heard, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly.

Herod was afraid of John. He knew he was a good man and right with God, and he kept John from being hurt or killed. He liked to listen to John preach. But when he did, he became troubled. John the Baptist Is Killed

21 B ut an opportune time came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and the high military commanders and chief men of Galilee.

Then Herodias found a way to have John killed. Herod gave a big supper on his birthday. He asked the leaders of the country and army captains and the leaders of Galilee to come.

22 F or when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased and fascinated Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, Ask me for whatever you desire, and I will give it to you.

The daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them. This made Herod and his friends happy. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”

23 A nd he put himself under oath to her, Whatever you ask me, I will give it to you, even to the half of my kingdom.

Then he made a promise to her, “Whatever you ask for, I will give it to you. I will give you even half of my nation.”

24 T hen she left the room and said to her mother, What shall I ask for ? And she replied, The head of John the Baptist!

She went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask for?” The mother answered, “I want the head of John the Baptist.”

25 A nd she rushed back instantly to the king and requested, saying, I wish you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

At once the girl went to Herod. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate now.”

26 A nd the king was deeply pained and grieved and exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to slight her.

Herod was very sorry. He had to do it because of his promise and because of those who ate with him.

27 A nd immediately the king sent off one of his bodyguard and gave him orders to bring head. He went and beheaded him in the prison

At once he sent one of his soldiers and told him to bring the head of John the Baptist. The soldier went to the prison and cut off John’s head.

28 A nd brought his head on a platter and handed it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

He took John’s head in on a plate and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother.

29 W hen his disciples learned of it, they came and took body and laid it in a tomb.

John’s followers heard this. They went and took his body and buried it. The Feeding of the Five Thousand

30 T he apostles came back and gathered together to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught.

The followers of Jesus came back to Him. They told Jesus all they had done and taught.

31 A nd He said to them, '> As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while—for many were coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat.

He said to them, “Come away from the people. Be by yourselves and rest.” There were many people coming and going. They had had no time even to eat.

32 A nd they went away in a boat to a solitary place by themselves.

They went by themselves in a boat to a desert.

33 N ow many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the surrounding towns, and they got there ahead.

Many people saw them leave and knew who they were. People ran fast from all the cities and got there first.

34 A s Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

When Jesus got out of the boat, He saw many people gathered together. He had loving-pity for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them many things.

35 A nd when the day was already far gone, His disciples came to Him and said, This is a desolate and isolated place, and the hour is now late.

The day was almost gone. The followers of Jesus came to Him. They said, “This is a desert. It is getting late.

36 S end the crowds away to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.

Tell the people to go to the towns and villages and buy food for themselves.”

37 B ut He replied to them, Give them something to eat yourselves. And they said to Him, Shall we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?

He said to them, “Give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “Are we to go and buy many loaves of bread and give it to them?”

38 A nd He said to them, How many loaves do you have? Go and see. And when they knew, they said, Five and two fish.

He said to them, “How many loaves of bread do you have here? Go and see.” When they knew, they said, “Five loaves of bread and two fish.”

39 T hen He commanded the people all to recline on the green grass by companies.

Then He told them to have all the people sit down together in groups on the green grass.

40 S o they threw themselves down in ranks of hundreds and fifties '> regularity of an arrangement of beds of herbs, looking like so many garden plots].

They sat down in groups of fifty people and in groups of one hundred people.

41 A nd taking the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven and, praising God, gave thanks and broke the loaves and kept on giving them to the disciples to set before the people; and He divided the two fish among all.

Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to the followers to set before the people. He divided the two fish among them all.

42 A nd they all ate and were satisfied.

They all ate and were filled.

43 A nd they took up twelve '> small hand] baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.

After that the followers picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish.

44 A nd those who ate the loaves were 5, 000 men.

About five thousand men ate the bread. Jesus Walks On The Water

45 A nd at once He insisted that the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He was sending the throng away.

At once Jesus had His followers get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to the town of Bethsaida. He sent the people away.

46 A nd after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray.

When they were all gone, He went up to the mountain to pray.

47 N ow when evening had come, the boat was out in the middle of the lake, and He was by Himself on the land.

It was evening. The boat was half-way across the sea. Jesus was alone on the land.

48 A nd having seen that they were troubled and tormented in rowing, for the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. And He acted as if He meant to pass by them,

He saw His followers were in trouble. The wind was against them. They were working very hard rowing the boat. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them walking on the sea. He would have gone past them.

49 B ut when they saw Him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and raised a shriek of terror.

When the followers saw Him walking on the water, they thought it was a spirit and cried out with fear.

50 F or they all saw Him and were agitated (troubled and filled with fear and dread). But immediately He talked with them and said, Take heart! I Am! Stop being alarmed and afraid.

For they all saw Him and were afraid. At once Jesus talked to them. He said, “Take hope. It is I, do not be afraid.”

51 A nd He went up into the boat with them, and the wind ceased ( sank to rest as if exhausted by its own beating). And they were astonished exceedingly,

He came over to them and got into the boat. The wind stopped. They were very much surprised and wondered about it.

52 F or they failed to consider or understand the loaves; their hearts had grown callous '> lost the power of understanding].

They had not learned what they should have learned from the loaves because their hearts were hard. People Are Healed at Gennesaret

53 A nd when they had crossed over, they reached the land of Gennesaret and came to the shore.

Then they crossed the sea and came to the land of Gennesaret and went to shore.

54 A s soon as they got out of the boat, recognized Him,

When Jesus got out of the boat, the people knew Him at once.

55 A nd they ran about the whole countryside, and began to carry around sick people on their sleeping pads or mats to any place where they heard that He was.

They ran through all the country bringing people who were sick on their beds to Jesus.

56 A nd wherever He came into villages or cities or the country, they would lay the sick in the marketplaces and beg Him that they might touch even the fringe of His outer garment, and as many as touched Him were restored to health.

Wherever He went, they would lay the sick people in the streets in the center of town where people gather. They begged Him that they might touch the bottom of His coat. Everyone who did was healed. This happened in the towns and in the cities and in the country where He went.